Two familiar competitors met in the championship match of the heavyweight division Saturday at the Brawl in the Falls high school wrestling tournament in Oconto Falls.
Bonduel’s Bennett Gunderson and Menominee Indian’s Alenex Warrington had already met once earlier this season and will likely face each other at least two more times before the season ends.
In their previous meeting on Dec. 3, Gunderson pinned Warrington in 3:03. On Saturday, Gunderson put Warrington on his back in 3:59 to help the Bears to a fifth-place finish in the 17-team tourney won by Oconto Falls. Menominee Indian finished 14th.
With only seven wrestlers competing at the varsity level, four Bonduel wrestlers place in the top six in their weight classes.
Jordan Boldt pinned Wabeno/Laona’s Brendon Dorner in 2:49 at 120 pounds to give the Bears the first title of the day, with Gunderson adding the second in the final match of the event.
Bonduel senior Garrett Siolka fell in his title quest, losing the 132-pound championship match by a major decision, 19-6, to New London’s Scott Cook, who earned the Most Oustanding Wrestler Award.
Also for the Bears, Jacob Giese, who wrestled at 138 pounds, added a third-place finish in his first action since the first week of the season, and Jacob Banker finished fifth at the 160-pound weight class.
After competing in two major tournaments — Oshkosh on the Water in December and the Brawl last week — Bonduel is trying to build confidence, especially with some of the younger wrestlers, as it prepares for the final month of the season, coach Chris Rank said.
“Now we are hoping to get a few wins under our belt, get some of our confidence back up that may be lacking with some of these guys taking tough losses, but it has worked out well for us in the past, and we anticipate the same,” Rank said. “We will have our guys ready come February.
“The guys that we’re hoping will have a legitimate shot to make it to state this year are doing well. We’ve got them healthy, and we will keep working hard to hopefully make that happen for them.”
Menominee Indian coach Kirk Bahr also is working on his team’s confidence.
The Eagles, who won twice as many matches Saturday as they did in the 2015 Brawl in the Falls, still need to become more aggressive on the mat, according to Bahr.
“We’ve just got to be a little more aggressive,” Bahr said. “Some of my guys are a little too leery. They are nervous on shooting, and they’ve got to have some more confidence out there.”
Warrington’s championship match reflected the squad’s mindset, he said.
“(Alenex Warrington) went to the second period, losing 2-1, and threw (Gunderson) on his back out of bounds,” Bahr said. “He just needs to keep the confidence up against him and not be hesitant, but wrestle smart.”
Kyle Komanekin finished in fourth at the 195-pound weight class for the Eagles, and Antonio Mahkimetas finished in sixth place at 145 pounds.
Bonduel and Menominee Indian have until Feb. 6 to prepare for the Central Wisconsin Conference tournament, then the WIAA postseason and a chance for state.
“It’s just practice for conference and regionals,” Bahr said. “Whatever they do, they do.”
Brawl in the Falls
Team scores: Oconto Falls, 197; Bay Port, 179; Green Bay Preble, 130; Wabeno/Laona, 111; Bonduel, 104.5; Reedsville, 89; Ashwaubenon, 88.5; New London, 83; Edgar, 70.5; Winneconne, 61.5; New Holstein, 61; Luxemburg-Casco, 59.5; Gillett/Suring, 59; Menominee Indian 55; Florence, 29; Menominee (MI), 22; Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas, 17.
Top 6 local finishers
120: Jordan Boldt, Bonduel, 1st place.
132: Garrett Siolka, Bonduel, 2nd place.
138: Jacob Giese, Bonduel, 3rd place.
145: Antonio Mahkimetas, Menominee Indian, 6th place.
160: Jacob Banker, Bonduel, 5th place.
195: Kyle Komanekin, Menominee Indian, 4th place.
285: Bennett Gunderson, Bonduel, 1st place; Alenex Warrington, Menominee Indian, 2nd place.
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